local AS on its knees - help!

Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick

after the meetings ajourn to the local pub for some light refreshment.

--
Wishing you clear dark skies,
Jim Vincent.
www.jimsastro.com
CfDS local officer for south east Essex

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick

Here Here !!
Or the offer of free ale, a pie/pea supper and a choice of loose women would
have me racing up the A1 !!

Seriously though I do sympathise with your plight and wish you all the
best!. I'm a newbie here having just been bought a telescope, but
unfortunately Pontefract has been covered in cloud since being given the
birthday gift so I haven't even used it

I'm hoping to attend the Pontefract AS over the coming weeks and was also
given a very kind offer of help from Steve over at the Todmorden AS (which
I'm still planning to get to btw)

I was bought a Tasco telescope which I initially thought was a good prezzie,
but after reading posts here and on the web it would appear that this type
of equipment is merely perhaps looked upon as a toy. Having said that I am a
complete noob and I'm sure it will make a good introduction to the science
for me, then later on after learning from the guys in this NG and folk at
the societies, I can lash out on something bigger and better )

If there are any fellow West York's astronomers here it would be great to
hear from you and get in touch, simply to off load the 50 questions I have
regarding the telescope I have and the things I should be doing (or) not
doing. Also some idea's of elevated sites I can easily lug the telescope
to... unfortunately I live in suburban hell and am surrounded by houses,
conservatory's, power lines, distant town lights, a power station (the
source of my cloud coverage methinks) and god knows what else to obscure my
view after stepping out the patio door

All the best to you lads and lasses

Paul

get me at :- astronoob"CURLY SNAIL"koochi.org Replace the
obvious




"James Vincent" wrote in message
...
after the meetings ajourn to the local pub for some light refreshment.

--
Wishing you clear dark skies,
Jim Vincent.
www.jimsastro.com
CfDS local officer for south east Essex

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is
again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark
local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick

Here Here !!
Or the offer of free ale, a pie/pea supper and a choice of loose women would
have me racing up the A1 !!

Seriously though I do sympathise with your plight and wish you all the
best!. I'm a newbie here having just been bought a telescope, but
unfortunately Pontefract has been covered in cloud since being given the
birthday gift so I haven't even used it

I'm hoping to attend the Pontefract AS over the coming weeks and was also
given a very kind offer of help from Steve over at the Todmorden AS (which
I'm still planning to get to btw)

I was bought a Tasco telescope which I initially thought was a good prezzie,
but after reading posts here and on the web it would appear that this type
of equipment is merely perhaps looked upon as a toy. Having said that I am a
complete noob and I'm sure it will make a good introduction to the science
for me, then later on after learning from the guys in this NG and folk at
the societies, I can lash out on something bigger and better )

If there are any fellow West York's astronomers here it would be great to
hear from you and get in touch, simply to off load the 50 questions I have
regarding the telescope I have and the things I should be doing (or) not
doing. Also some idea's of elevated sites I can easily lug the telescope
to... unfortunately I live in suburban hell and am surrounded by houses,
conservatory's, power lines, distant town lights, a power station (the
source of my cloud coverage methinks) and god knows what else to obscure my
view after stepping out the patio door

All the best to you lads and lasses

Paul

get me at :- astronoob"CURLY SNAIL"koochi.org Replace the
obvious




"James Vincent" wrote in message
...
after the meetings ajourn to the local pub for some light refreshment.

--
Wishing you clear dark skies,
Jim Vincent.
www.jimsastro.com
CfDS local officer for south east Essex

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is
again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark
local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick

after the meetings ajourn to the local pub for some light refreshment.

--
Wishing you clear dark skies,
Jim Vincent.
www.jimsastro.com
CfDS local officer for south east Essex

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick

"páidi" wrote:

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

Weekly is pretty ambitious - many AS's are monthly - that's less
committment, easier to organise and still leaves members free to get
together whenever they want in small groups to observe, help each
other etc. I for one couldn't join a wekly society

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

"páidi" wrote:

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

Weekly is pretty ambitious - many AS's are monthly - that's less
committment, easier to organise and still leaves members free to get
together whenever they want in small groups to observe, help each
other etc. I for one couldn't join a wekly society

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

Where exactly are you? I am in North Tyneside and would love to come along
(though not every week - perhaps once a month)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

Which college? How do you advertise the events? You are being quite vague
here - perhaps the adverts are too?

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

I would probably be more inclined to coming to the observing sessions and
being taught how to find those bloody small fuzzy things I am intent on
seeing!


Clear, dark skies for Mars
-halli-

"páidi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again
in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

Where exactly are you? I am in North Tyneside and would love to come along
(though not every week - perhaps once a month)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those
with
the scopes

Which college? How do you advertise the events? You are being quite vague
here - perhaps the adverts are too?

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

I would probably be more inclined to coming to the observing sessions and
being taught how to find those bloody small fuzzy things I am intent on
seeing!


Clear, dark skies for Mars
-halli-

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 20:47:26 +0100, "páidi"
inscribed in blood upon a
parchment:

Hi all,
after a couple years of improving membership my local AS is again in
decline; members of succesful societies; what is your secret??

We are based in a large catchment (tyneside) and meet at a college where
there is an observatory (which we have some access too) and planetaium
(where we have some access too from this season.)

We based as many meetings as possible on observing at a fairly dark local
site (10 min drive from college) but no-one turned up, apart from those with
the scopes

we meet weekly and vary the programme between talks, quizzes, videos and
observing nights.

But still they don't come...despite publicising events locally.

Suggestions please?

cheers
patrick


Get as many active (preferably young) people to help out...get word
out, and make sure that anyone who interfaces with the public at a
meeting is capable of coherent sentences!

Best,
Dave
Author of the Supernovae and Supernova Remnants FAQ
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/supernova/
Visions of Light, Visions of Darkness - B&W Photography of Wessex
http://www.valinor.freeserve.co.uk/visions.html